The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-05
A GHOST IN THE MAIN-ToP.

A GFOSI I'm TIE mAlN-iOF'
About the year 1850 I was on one of
our East India ships bound from Boston
to Calcutta. We arrived off the Cape of
Good Hope with fair weather to that
point, but every one was on the lookout
now for blow from some quarter.
The previous evening one Of the look
outs during the mid-watch had insisted he
had seen the Flying Dutchman," and
everybody knows that when that is the
case blow or bad weather in some shape
is sure to come. And come it did with
vengeance, for the very next night the
wind died down to calm, then suddenly
jumped out from the nor'west butt-end
first.
Six of the old tars went tumbling up
the weather main-rigging, and were urged
on by the gruff voice of the second mate,
a thorough old sea-dog, who sang out,
"Come, bear hand there, you lubbers,
and get on deck againl" And on deck
they were again sooner than he or the
men expected; for just as they showed
their heads over the top" deep sepul-
chral voice called out, "Blows hard,
jack" They were staggered, and for an
instant hesitated, when again the fearful
voice repeated, "Blows hard, Jack" That
was enough; their superstitious fears
overcame them, and they did not stop
till the deck was reached.
BY this time the captain and mate were
on deck, and were astonished to see six of
the best men on the ship come tumbling
down, while the main-top- gallant sail and
royal were Stating in the buntlines as
though they would blow away at every
flap.
whats the matter? Why didn't you
furl those sails?" said the captain.
Matter enough" said an old salt.
" You don't get me in that main-top to-
night. wouldn't give much for any one
who goes up, either, for 1 not only saw
the ghost, or whatever it is, but heard
him talk"
This was too much for the old skipper.
The idea of losing all his sails because
there was a ghost in the main-top was
too much for him; SO he called for vol
unteers, and started up the rigging, fol-
lowed by his two mates only. Not an
other man would go. Those who had
been up had seen and heard enough, and
those who hadn't did not care to risk it.
Well, the old skipper and his mates
Jared no better than the men, for hardly
had their heads reached over the stop
rim" than, in the same awful, blood
curdling tones, came to their ears the
words, Blows hard, Jackl" and there,
right in the "dublins" of the mast, the
captain caught sight of two glazing eyes,
and long white arm reached down as if
to clutch him, and down they all scamp
cred to the deck as fast as their legs
would take them.
About daylight the steward discovered
that pet parrot belonging to the skipper
had escaped from his cage, and was gone,
probably blown overheard and lost in the
gale. Polly had, however, by bard work,
managed TO alight in the main : top,
where she had slowed herself in the
dublins of the mast, and was holding
on for dear life until she was rescued in
the morning.
The main-top-gallant studding-sail was
dashed in the weather top-mast rigging,
and the clew had blown. adrift, and hap
pened to flop down at the captain as he
went over the top" in the black dark
ness, and so was easily magnified into
ghostly arm, and Polly into the frightful
ghost.-Harper's Young People.